January 23, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS – February 4, 2006 is the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Fortress Press is commemorating the event with the release of the centenary edition of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Life in Pictures to coincide with the showing of the Martin Doblmeier's award-winning film, BONHOEFFER: Pastor, Pacifist, Nazi Resistor, on PBS stations throughout the country.

When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, igniting the Second World War, a group of German conspirators were already plotting a coup d'état; over the next six years, there were as many as fifteen assassination attempts against Hitler. One of the co-conspirators, a double agent who smuggled information about the plots to the Allies, was the young German pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In the 1930s, he wrote about the necessity of "risking" peace and "daring" a loving response to others -words that seem to fly in the face of his later justification of assassination. But Bonhoeffer formulated his theology and ethics in the crucible of a long and ultimately fatal struggle with the Nazi regime in Germany. His story is a fascinating window onto the dilemmas of twentieth-century ethics and spirituality.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Life in Pictures was first published in English in 1987 by Fortress Press. The new centenary edition includes new photographs, design and a new translation. The book now has more than 200 photographs, including many portraits of Bonhoeffer's ancestors and family gatherings, some never before published. Also included are press photos of contemporary events, maps, postcards, newspaper accounts, and posters that set events in his family life against the tumultuous events in church, state, and the international scene.

For those who know Dietrich Bonhoeffer through his writings or even films about him, this new edition will introduce Bonhoeffer the man and circle of family and friends who together with him faced fateful choices.

"These images are described and excerpted in ways that helpfully illumine the political and ecclesiastical contexts of Bonhoeffer's life, as well as the personal relationships that meant so much to him. Think of this book as a companion volume to Eberhard Bethge's biography. No serious student of Bonhoeffer should be without either." –Stephen Haynes, author of The Bonhoeffer Legacy and The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon

"It is remarkable how much of the life and the life-world of Bonhoeffer has been distilled in these pages. The century of his birth – and the character and influence of his person – is beautifully served by this handsome volume." –Larry Rasmussen, Union Theological Seminary, New York City

BONHOEFFER: Pastor, Pacifist, Nazi Resistor, the critically acclaimed documentary film on the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, will be broadcast nationally on PBS in early 2006. The film, which was shown in theaters nationwide and has won the Gabriel and Wilbur awards for Best Documentary of 2004, was underwritten by the Lilly Foundation with additional support from Arthur Vining Davis Foundation and others. The film is available from Journey Films and Fortress Press on DVD and VHS.

The Journey Films' feature film production will be broadcast nationally on PBS television on February 6, 2006. The broadcast time is 10 P.M. EST, but check local listings for broadcast time on your PBS affiliate.

A series of special screenings of BONHOEFFER will lead up to the PBS Broadcast:

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 – 7 p.m. Chicago Sinai Congregation 15. W. Delaware, Chicago, IL Co-sponsored with Fourth Presbyterian Church and Christian Century magazine. This screening will feature introductory comments by filmmaker Martin Doblmeier and a discussion by panelists Martin Marty, Michael Sternfield, Robin Lovin, Brent Laytham and Nancy Bedford.

Wednesday, February 1, 2006 – 7 p.m. Washington National Cathedral Wisconsin & Massachusetts Avenues, Washington, DC Sponsored by the Cathedral College and Sojourners Ministries Tickets $15 at door Full feature-length showing of the movie plus a discussion with the filmmaker, Martin Doblmeier.

Thursday February 2, 2006 – 7p.m. to 9 p.m. James Chapel, Union Theological Seminary 3041 Broadway at 121st Street, New York, NY Sponsored by The Hartley Film Foundation in collaboration with Auburn Theological Seminary Admission: free Screening to be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Martin Doblmeier.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Life in Pictures Format: Hardcover, 160 pages, 8 x 10 inches, Item No: 0800638115, Publisher: Fortress Press, Price: $25.00.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Pacifist, Nazi Resistor Format: VHS, 90 minutes, Item No: 6000230052, Price: $24.95

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Pacifist, Nazi Resistor Format: DVD, 90 minutes, Item No: 6000230060, Price: $29.95

To order Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Life in Pictures or Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Pacifist, Nazi Resistor, call Fortress Press at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Fortress Press is the publisher of Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, a series of critical English editions of Bonhoeffer's writings (ultimately sixteen volumes), and many other related resources.

Fortress Press